Improved method of propelling- sleds



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. BRAUN Sled Propeller.

No. 92,574. Patented July 13, I869.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. J. BRAUN.

Sled Propeller.

No. 92,574. Patented July 13,1869.

I dniml $13125 flaunt attire.

Letters Patent No. 92,574,dated J uiy 13, 1869.

IMPROVED METHOD OI PROPELLING- SLEDS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent 'and making part of the same.

To all whom it'may concern:

- Be it known that I, JOHN BRAUN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Method of Propelling Sleighs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same.

My invention consists in the combination, with a sleigh, of two or more pointed propelling-rods, which are so operated, either by-a rocking motion of a frame or chair vibrating on the sled, or by means of levers, that, bya rapid succession of pushes on the ice or snow, they shall urge the sleigh forward.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1, sheet 1, is a side view of a sleigh, showing my method of propelling the same; v

. Figure 2, a sectional view, with the working parts moved to a different position;

Figure 3, sheet2, a rear view of the sleigh;

1 Figtiine 4, a sectional plan view on the line 1-2, fig.

Figure 5, sheet 1, a modification of my invention, to be used, either independently or in connection with the devices shown in former figures.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A and A represent the opposite side pieces or runners of a sleigh, connected together by cross-pieces, b and I); and to upright bearings, a a, secured to these runners, is pivoted a frame, B, to which the seat 0 is attached.

A rock-spindle, F, is arranged to turn in suitable bearings of the runners A and A, beneathor adjacent to the front end of the frame B; the said spindle having at each end: a crank, c, and in the centre, between the runners, a second crank, h, arranged at an angle with respect to the cranks c. v

The front end of the frame 13 is connected to the cranks cby means of links, & blinks, j j, serving to connect the rear end of the said frame with the cranks ofa second spindle, F, which also turns in the opposite runners, and is provided with a central crank, it.

Two propelling-rods, I I, are hung loosely to the crank It of the spindle F, and are so curved that their pointed ends shall (whatever may be the position of the vibrating frame B) rest upon the surface of the ice or snow over which the sleigh is to be propelled.

Similar curved and pointed propelling-rods, I, are lnmg loosely to the crank I! of the rear spindle 1*"; these latter rods being in the present. instance made of flat metal for facility of attachment to the spindle and to enable their points to be sharpened more readily.

The method of propelling the sleigh by means of the above devices is as follows:

vibrating frame or chair, places his feet against the round or cross-piece b of the sleigh, and then, by a movement of his body, imparts a vibrating or rocking motion to the seat and frame 13 upon the pivots a a.

If the several parts are in the position shown in fig. 1, and a backward motion be given to the frame B, so as to depress its rear end, the cranks 0c of the spindle F will also be lowered,-as indicated by the arrow, and the crank h will be moved in such a direction as to exert a backward pressure upon the rods I, driving their points into the ice or snow, and thus urging the sleigh forward.

\Vhile the spindle F and its rods are thus operated bythe'depression of the rear end of the frame B, the elevation of the front end of the said frame so turns the spindle B, (see arrows, fig. 1,) as to withdraw the points of the rods I from the ice or snow, and to bring the said rods to a position most favorable for propelling the sleighwhen the motion of the frame B is reversed. (See fig. 2.)

The arrows, in fig. 2, illustrate the operation of the several parts whenthe front end of the frame Bis being depressed, the rods-I then performing theirduty of propelling the sleigh, while the rear rods 1', are being brought to their former position, (fig. 1,) to be ready for action when the direction of the motion of the frame B is again changed.

It will be seen that as the seat of the frame or chair is above the axis on which it vibrates, the weight of the operator is rendered much more available in propelling the sleigh, than in sleds where the said axis is above the seat. It will be understood, without further description, that, as the propelling-rods are brought into play, at both the forward and backward motion of the seat, a series of pushes will be given to the sleigh in such quick succession as to urge it forward at a considerable rate of speed.

For the purpose of steering the sleigh, each of the rear rods 1' is provided with an arm, m, which projects upwards through an opening in the seat, in order to be convenient to the hands of the operator, and so as to place the saidrods entirely at his command.

Instead of steering by means of the rods 1, however, the arms at may be dispensed with, and additional steeringrods, J J, one for each side of the sleigh, be employed. (Sec fig. 5.)

These rods are curved and pointed, and are hung to operating-levera-Ii, which are pivoted to the runners,

and provided with handles at the upper ends, each of the said rods being maintained in contact with the surface of the ice or snow by means of a spring, q, as plainly shown in *5. I

When employed in connection with the rockingframe B, and rods I and I, the steering-rods J can also be used to assist in propelling the sleigh, orthey 1 may be used for this purpose independently, as shown in fig. 5, where the frame B is secured permanently to the runners, and serves merely as a support for the seat.

Various means, however, of steering the sleigh may be resorted to. The oar-like rod X, shown in fig. 4,

' would, for instance, answer the purpose.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by .Letters Patent- 1. The vibrating frame or chair 0, hung to a sled, and having its seat above the axis on which it vibrates, in combination with pointed' rods, I I, operated by the movement of the seat, as specified.

2. The curved and pointed propelling-rods I and I,

when hung loosely to the cranked portions,'h, of rockspindlesF and F, for the purpose described.

Witnesses J om: WHITE, HARRY SMIT 

